There was a time when I believed that art was a reflection of the real world (i.e. art imitating life). But, more lately, I am beginning to wonder about that as

There was a time when I believed that art was a reflection of the real world (i.e. art imitating life). But, more lately, I am beginning to wonder about that assumption. For one, the "real world" itself is becoming increasingly virtual, with people now spending hours each day "interacting" with others via technology. Are the lines between reality and the virtual world blurring? And, it's an age-old question as to whether the consumption of violent entertainment begets real violence. The debate started with film, then moved to video games. I believe there is a distinction betwen the formats, in that film is merely viewed passively, while FPS-style games involve the active engagement of the consumer in simulated violent acts. It is hard to imagine that hours of this type of activity has no effect on the human mind. So, while it has been argued that violent entertainment does not lead to a more violent society, I find it increasingly difficult to reconcile the notion of a complete disconnect between mass shootings and other forms of dramatic violence, with the proliferation of realistic FPS games. This is especially so, given that tactics used in the former frequently seem to mimic those of the latter.